Pirq inks deal with AAA, eyes San Fran for restaurant deal expansion

AAA Washington members will soon get an extra benefit beyond towing and travel discounts. In fact, you could say members of the club are getting a nice new perk, or should we say Pirq.

Pirq, the Seattle mobile application developer that provides deals on local restaurants, has inked a partnership in which it will bring special restaurant deals to AAA members who own an Android phone or iPhone.

AAA Members who download the free app and input a special promo code will gain access to special restaurant deals. Pirq CEO James Sun described the partnership as a “very large deal” — in part because it could lead to further distribution through other AAA clubs.

AAA is one of the largest clubs in Washington state with more than one million members. With the new partnership in place, Sun tells GeekWire that they plan to bolster its roster of restaurants from 170 now to more than 270.

Current restaurants now offering deals through Pirq include Taco Del Mar, Zoka Coffee, Turnpike Pizza and others. Typically, consumers save between 20 percent to 50 percent on local restaurants.

“AAA evaluated many many companies, and ultimately chose us because they believe in the long-term viability of our model,” said Sun, best known for his appearance on Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice.” “They also like the simplicity for the consumer — where the consumer doesn’t have to pay for a coupon like Groupon or Living Social.”

The Kirkland company — which raised $1.9 million from Rally Capital and others last December — also plans to expand into San Francisco soon. That will mark Pirq’s second major market. A joint venture between Sun’s previous company and Kirkland’s Passport Unlimited, Pirq launched last June.

John Cook is GeekWire's co-founder and editor, a veteran reporter and the longest-serving journalist on the Pacific Northwest tech startup beat. Follow him @johnhcook and email john@geekwire.com.